Angry recreational fishing groups have threatened to campaign against the Gillard government’s marine reserves network, potentially trig­gering a blue-collar backlash at the election.

Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
yesterday offered $100 million in aid to the commercial fishing industry, after the government’s decision to expand marine reserves to 3.1 square kilometres of ocean. She stressed the reserves would affect only 1 per cent of existing commercial fishing.

But amateur fishing groups said they would exercise their “electoral muscle" if the plan was not changed before the federal election, which is due late next year.

A senior Coalition source said the reserves would be “political dynamite" for the government in coastal seats.

Australian Fishing Trade Association chief executive Allan Hansard said: “This is one issue about the rights of Australians and recreational fishers have a very strongly felt view that we should not have those rights taken away from us.

“There are 5 million of us. We are a fairly big voting base and we have exercised our electoral muscle before. If this issue is around at the federal election we will consider how we get our issues well and truly heard and understood by parties."

The opposition promised to review the reserves. It is likely that recreational fishermen will be allowed into protected areas if the Coalition is elected.

“We have a very strong record when it comes to marine protection but this government has a record of complete bungling . . . a record of complete failure to consult before making announcements, and I have to say that I am instinctively against anything that damages the rights of recreational fishing," Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
said.

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“I am instinctively cautious about anything that could further damage the commercial fishing industry and the tourism industry."

As part of the 33 new reserves, recreational fishing will be banned in new marine national parks in the Coral Sea, in sections of the Great Australian Bight, the Gulf of Carpenteria and the north-west of Western Australia.

“There are very few restrictions on recreational fishing along the temperate east. Effectively, if you’re south of Mackay and you’re powering east from where you are, you’re pretty hard pressed to find an area where recreational fishing would be banned," Environment Minister
Tony Burke
said.

But Mr Hansard said the new marine park off the Great Barrier Reef was the “Mount Everest for recreational fishers".

“It is a very sought-after area to go out to and it draws people from around the world," he said.

The planned assistance package of about $100 million compares with the $250 million in payments when fishing was banned in the Great Barrier Marine Reef Marine Park in 2001.

Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig said assistance would begin to flow before the reserves were activated. This would include transitional assistance to support changes to fishing business operations; assistance for employees; investment in research and monitoring; possible purchases of fishing entitlements; and targeted assistance to vertically integrated fishing businesses.

At the last election, Labor faced a strong campaign from recreational fishing groups in marginal seats along the east coast, such as Eden-Monaro, Gilmore and Page.

A senior Coalition source said the announcement would be electoral suicide for the government.“It has a feel-good quality in city seats but it is an existential issue in coastal seats and for blue-collar voters it is about identity and sense of recreation."

Mr Burke said there had been extensive consultation on the plan.

Environment groups welcomed the marine reserves announcement but highlighted the exclusion of areas off WA to enable oil and gas exploration.

The Wilderness Society was disappointed that marine regions such as the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef and coral atolls such as the Rowley Shoals were not protected.

Cairns dive operator and spokesman for the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, Col McKenzie, said the announcement would have a positive effect on the north Queensland tourism market.

“I am sure there are some fishing charter operators who will be concerned . . . but it will actually improve tourism generally from the fact it will increase Australia’s profile overseas, particularly among high-end tourists who have high environmental awareness," Mr McKenzie said.

But another dive operator, Mike Ball, said the new reserves did nothing to protect pelagic species – such as big fish and sharks –that divers were so interested in.